“Only by living at the edge of death can you understand the indescribable joy of life.”After Englishman John Blackthorne is lost at sea, he awakens in a place few Europeans know of and even fewer have seen—Nippon. Thrust into the closed society that is late sixteenth-century Japan, a land where the line between life and death is razor-thin, Blackthorne must negotiate not only a foreign people, … people, with unknown customs and language, but also his own definitions of morality, truth, and freedom. As internal political strife and a clash of cultures lead to seemingly inevitable conflict, Blackthorne’s loyalty and strength of character are tested by both passion and loss, and he is torn between two worlds that will each be forever changed.
Powerful and engrossing, capturing both the rich pageantry and stark realities of life in feudal Japan, Shōgun is a critically acclaimed powerhouse of a book. Heart-stopping, edge-of-your-seat action melds seamlessly with intricate historical detail and raw human emotion. Endlessly compelling, this sweeping saga captivated the world to become not only one of the bestselling novels of all time but also one of the highest-rated television miniseries, as well as inspiring a nationwide surge of interest in the culture of Japan. Shakespearean in both scope and depth, Shōgun is, as the New York Times put it, “…not only something you read—you live it.” Provocative, absorbing, and endlessly fascinating, there is only one: Shōgun.
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One of the 5 best books I’ve read over 65 years.
I read this book years ago when it was first published and the story remains fresh in my mind and the book remains on my book shelf because it is so well written and such an absorbing story. If you want to visit feudal Japan open this book and there you are!
One of the best ever written.
I read over 60 books a year, this is one of the two best books I have ever read.
I am 86 and have read rebelliously since my 20s, I have read thousands of books.
DO NOT MISS THIS BOOK.
Absolutely one of my favorite authors. I read this book years ago. It’s still fresh in my mind.
One of my all-time favorites. One of the few I’ve read more than once!
A wonderful book that sheds light on early chinese customs.
This was a wonderful book! I have enjoyed all Clavell’s books This one was different though because of all the very small, interesting details regarding everything; the clothing, the homes, the bedding. and even the floors. I felt like I learned a lot!
Culturally insightful
17th Century Japan and challenge for all, with the courts and rules of the land being so foreign to our hero
Shogun is Clavell at his best. A little more in depth and involved than King Rat it takes you inside the romanticized samurai era. I have never seen the mini-series with Richard Chamberlain, however the story is so vivid I do not know if I would want to. The cast of characters is amazing. I have read it at least three times since discovering it in …
I loved this book. The history of Japan and customs was so revealing to me. I elearned a lot.
One of those books you never forget. I read it over 30 years ago and it was one of my all time favorites. You really learn a lot about another culture.
An unbelievably intense, thrilling and enjoyable read! This author has a way with words that keeps the reader engrossed; from beginning to end.
Absolutely fascinating
A genial mix of history with love There were not many books in its time with so much information of this part of the world
Fantastic book. Still have flashes of it years later.
Great history! One of my favorite books of all time. Read it in one sitting, could not put it down.
I read this while I was bedridden for a few days, so long ago that I recall few details ( and these I cannot distinguish from the mental images that I have from the TV movie). What I do remember is that when I finished reading (i.e., after most of three days) it took a while for me to return from period Japan. The author succeded in transporting …
One of those books you will never forget.